Certainly there are plenty of people in the world who are tolerant, and even respectful, of other points of view. That’s why it sometimes surprises me when those otherwise open-minded, balanced folks who are convinced that there is no “single truth” are still looking for some discovery in nature, a supplement, or a drug, or gene therapy that will be THE THING that has the power to prevent or reduce every known cause of mortality.

We are dynamic, biological beings, not “machines,” and just as there isn’t one religion or political ideology that is a one-size-fits-all, there isn’t going to be the same health answer for everyone. We are far more than the sum total of our parts. Our central integrative states differ and, therefore, internal incitement factors and external, environmental influences cause us to react in different ways. Case in point, there are a few individuals who can smoke cigarettes and live to be ninety without any obvious ill effects. Yet, as a habit for most, it is definitely detrimental.

We make conscious choices everyday that have to do with the health of our individual body. We personally decide what we’ll put into our body, and how much activity and rest we’ll get. Not all the decisions we make are beneficial for our health and longevity, even though we “know,” by the way our individual body responds, what if “right” for us.

When we choose an unhealthy lifestyle, our naturally homeostatic system becomes “off balance.” Over time, the imbalances we’ve created by not making healthy choices, result in diseases. We can hope, we can even pray, that one day researchers may uncover a “the single truth” in nature that has the power to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things we do to our body on a regular basis. But, a better solution would be for each us to follow our own natural, individual path to health. If we do, we’ll be live longer, healthier lives.

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We’d all agree that life can be a pain, on occasion, and turn into a tension headache. Most of us have experienced more than one. If you’ve had a tension headache, then you probably experience it as a dull, aching head pain that is commonly accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. Occasionally, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and periodically you may experience a loss of appetite.

Tension headaches are usually defined as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one headache to another in the same person, as well as from one individual to another Tension headaches can occur infrequently or you may have them regularly. Your headaches are considered chronic if they occur fifteen or more days a month for at least three months. If tension headaches are interrupting your life, chiropractic treatment may be the remedy. Give your chiropractor a call.

Migraine headaches are different from the common tension-related headache. For instance, migraines more often than not take place on one side of the head only, according to the National Headache Foundation. The throbbing or pulsating pain is accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Auras, visual manifestions an hour before a migraine attack, and features such as pulsating light, lines or dots, are experienced by one-fifth of migraine sufferers.

Do you experience the painful symptoms of migraines? If you do, you know the upsetting, incapacitating effects that this kind of affliction can have on your life. The pain of a migraine headache can sideline you for hours, for days, for a lifetime, and conventional over-the-counter medications are not only ineffective but, like prescription drugs, they generally have alarming side effects. It’s time to really do something about the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic care has proved to be highly effective in relieving and eliminating migraine headaches. Get in touch with your chiropractor today!

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It certainly seems to me that recently the media has bombarded us with exorbitant numbers of featured articles praising research on the heart benefits of red wine (resveratrol), the memory loss benefits of coffee (caffeine), and the amazing benefits of a monumental amount of exotic supplements that remarkably promise to reduce or prevent every known cause of mortality. In deed, if the reports and tabloid ads are a meter of human interests, our search for longevity has taken a back seat to a craving for immortality.

Let me clarify, first of all, that I believe in taking supplements and take them, myself. Secondly, I would like to be candid and say that I am one who enjoys a glass of red wine. So, the suggestion that it might genuinely be good for my health, especially my heart, simply adds to my enjoyment. And, if something as simple as drinking coffee could actually eliminate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, then I’d be tempted to close up my practice and open a Starbucks.

But, let’s stop and ponder the prudence of aimlessly adding an extra cuppa to your breakfast routine, drinking another glass of red wine with dinner, or plunking down a pile of money on high-priced minerals and herbs that guarantee near-immortality.

For instance, let us think about the fact that we, humans, are dynamic, biological beings, free to enthusiastically interact with life. We have not been detained in a cage, and none of us has been “propagated” to artificially develop the age-related debilitation and disease that lab animals are bred to do, conditions that are then “reversed” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some exotic herb.

Moreover, our being dynamic and biological is another way of saying that we, humans, are not ” mechanistic automatons.” In other words, we aren’t all precisely alike. Due to the fact that our central integrative states are not exactly the same, internal provocation factors and external irritation influences affect us in different ways. For example, though smoking cigarettes is commonly harmful to most people, there are a few individuals who can smoke cigarettes and still achieve longevity without any related ill effects.

Scientific studies isolate certain variables in order to achieve particular outcomes. That’s scientific inquiry! But, because the results occur through such isolation, and due to the fact that they are generally done on animals, when it comes to translating such results to humans, it can be said that what may work for some of the people all of the time, won’t work for all of the people all of the time, and sometimes won’t work at all (to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln!).

Everyday you make considerable choices that affect both your health and longevity. Decisions such as what you’ll eat and how much exercise and rest you’ll get will either be good for you, or not so good. Obviously, your unhealthy choices are not beneficial for your long-term health. And, even though you know, by the way your individual body responds to certain things, you may often ignore these important health messages.

Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!

The elegantly balanced system of your body (homeostasis) is highly responsive and intricate. This delicate system becomes “off balance” when you live an unhealthy lifestyle. Eventually, the imbalances nurtured through poor health choices, result in diseases.

As a chiropractor, I advise that you supplement if you need it. Pour that added cup of coffee if it feels right. And, have a little more red wine if it genuinely feels beneficial for your individual system. But all the while remember, the only truly reliable way that we, humans, can avoid or reverse age-related health issues is by changing our unhealthy lifestyle. Good health has nothing do with luck. And, there is no “magic potion” when it comes to health and longevity.

Jamie Phillips, DC, a Santa Barbara Chiropractor, has been a practicing chiropractor for 24 years. She is also a consultant for Bloczone Marketing, a chiropractic internet marketing company specializing in chiropractic websites that attract new patients. She can be reached at (805) 882-1956.

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been performed in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.  It is earning popularity in other parts of the world and for a splendid reason: Many people have undergone relief from their back pain and quite a few other health challenges by coming in to see an acupuncturist on a systematic basis.  According to traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy, small needles are introduced into the body at specific points that are believed to affect multifarious areas of the body.  In traditional therapy, only the needles are used, though sometimes and particularly in recent years, small electrical currents are passed through the needles into the body.  Despite the fact that it may seem as if it would be painful, it seldom ever is and, actually, many people experience relaxation and pleasurable sensations while undergoing acupuncture treatments.

Chiropractic

A Honolulu chiropractor, also called a doctor of chiropractic, has been helping men, women, and even children suffering from back pain and other problems for over a hundred years. A chiropractor cares for those who are suffering from musculoskeletal and nervous system dysfunctions. Chiropractic medicine attends to the misalignments of the vertebral column that impede the capacity of the nervous system. These misaligned vertebra can reduce resistance and immunity, thus producing new health challenges. An effective chiropractor has excellent observational and diagnostic skills that help in detecting physical abnormalities and joint problems. Many chiropractors employ neurological tests and orthopedic tests. Some will analyze the posture of someone as a tool for identifying postural irregularities, and in addition may study an individuals gait to determine faulty movement patterns. Chiropractic management non-surgical, drug-free treatment and in addition will offer advice and provide education concerning the advantages of individual lifestyle changes, such as in exercise and nutrition.

So, if you are experiencing back pain, headaches, neck pain, hip pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, balance challenges, or arthritis, and you’ve tried a number of other things and they haven’t worked, chiropractic and acupuncture may be able to help.  The only way that you’re going to be able to tell is to visit a good chiropractor or acupuncturist, and to permit them to tell you precisely what they can do for you.  It’s very possible that you will experience some relief from your pain even after only one visit.  With successive visits, you will continue to make improvements, and it is likely that you will find that these natural treatments work best for your back pain.

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Controlling and preserving body position while staying still orin motion is the principal function of good balance. Good balance helps an individual to walk without wobbling, arise from a sitting position without falling, and to climb stairs without slipping.

Nearly 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, disclose having difficulties with balance. Good balance is necessary in helping an older person to stay independent, and to carry out daily chores and activities. Many older individuals, however, undergo dizziness, “wooziness,” and challenges with balance.

The experience by some people that they, themselves, or their environment is spinning is known as “vertigo.” About 40 percent of people nationwide will experience dizziness that is severe enough to go to a doctor. And, among older adults, falls are the leading cause of severe injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Conditions

Three types of balance disorders that are most prevalent are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease, though there are quite a few other classes of balance disorders. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common. It takes place as a brief, intense feeling of vertigo when someone changes head position. It can likewise be noticed when rolling over to the left or right in bed, upon arising in the morning, or when looking up for an object on a high shelf. This condition is more probable in persons 60 and older, although it can also take place in younger individuals.

There are an assortment of basis for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging can cause the problem. Many times times a simple Epleys procedure can correct the problem, though it can be linked to other disease processes. Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

Labyrinthitis is an infection or iirritation of the inner ear that cause dizziness and loss of balance. It affects adults of any age and the cause is unknown.

Ménière’s disease is a balance disorder that creates vertigo, hearing loss that comes and goes, tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ears), and a “full feeling” in the ear.

Although people who are older are more likely to experience balance disorders, age is not the only cause for why these problems occur. Depending on the reason for the balance disorder, care will vary. Many times, there’s a simple resolution to balance challenges, such as simple exercises for vestibular rehab. A chiropractor is highly skilled in assessing and treating a number of balance disorders. Make an appointment with a health care professional, such as your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, if you have encountered, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other problems with balance.

Whereas some balance disorders are produced by problems in the inner ear, other disorders may be associated with another region of the body, such as the brain or the heart. Other components, besides aging and ear infection, may include head injury, certain medicines, challenges with blood circulation, upper respiratory infections, viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use, stroke, high or low blood pressure, and heart disease.

Balance disorders produced by high blood pressure can normally be managed by less sodium intake,sustaining a healthy weight, and exercise. To assist in making the symptoms of dizziness less intense, frequently eating low-salt or salt-free foods, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, will help.

Balance disorders are serious. It is the number one cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is crucial to have a possible balance disorder analysed and treated as soon as possible.

If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions listed below, you should discuss the symptom(s) with your chiropractor:

• Do you have the feeling of being “unsteady?”

• Does the room seem to spin around you?

• Is there ever a time when you feel as if you are moving when you know you are standing still?

• Do you lose your balance and/or fall?

• Do you feel as if you are falling?

• Does your vision ever become “blurred?”

• Do you ever feel disoriented, or lose a sense of time, place or identify?

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call your chiropractor today.

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Besides spinal complaints, knee pain and disability is one of the most commonplace problems of the musculoskeletal system. Poor mechanics of the knee, as well as impaired foot mechanics due to foot pain frequently cause painful knee problems. Additional causes generally include overuse of the knee joint, inflammation related to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: The most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain is insufficient mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee. The patella or knee-cap is generally the area affected because often the patella does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee generating abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This distinct condition is frequently called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The condition generally originates when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that join to and move the patella. Lower back conditions, expressly in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the main reasons for imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement, and subsequent knee problems. Imbalances in muscle groups that join to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. For example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh, when strained and tight, can produce pain on the medial or inside of the knee.   Insufficient foot mechanics that produce gait abnormalities such as pronation, are another cause of mechanical knee pain.

The correspondent pain from overuse is most generally experienced during activity, in particular stair climbing, running, jumping, and after getting up from prolonged sitting. Some women seem to be predisposed to painful overuse conditions for anatomical reasons, although such conditions are frequently related to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

It is important to re-establish proper muscle balance, restore appropriate motion to the patella and other knee joints, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is used to help with the alignment of the patella or to support the joint. Chiropractors, such as your San Jose chiropractor, are fully trained to render the correct diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries often happen during activities that involve running and jumping, especially. Sprains happen when tissue is torn as the result of the knee being extended or contorted beyond the capacity of the ligaments that hold the joint together. The muscles that facilitate movement of the knee can also be torn during injury causing a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a mild injury that needs little attention to a serious injury necessitating surgery. In addition the two special knee “cartilages” located between the tibia and femur (called the menisci), which allow for frictionless movement and cushioning, may also be torn during traumatic injury. This serious injury frequently requires surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can produce serious pain and swelling and require immediate evaluation and treatment. In the majority of cases a competent chiropractor, such as your San Jose Chiropractor, can manage these types of injuries, although there are some injuries that do need the dexterity of an orthopedic surgeon. Whatever the case, it is crucial to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to ice the injured area, if possible, until the injury can be examined.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be fixed at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, especially the cartilage, will eventually erode. Consequently the bones will rub on one another, and changes such as bone spurs can eventuate. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is often progressive with age. General treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that are highly effectual such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in relieving the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is very knowledgeable about anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, sufferers can frequently aid themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research organization based in Rosemont, Ill., reveals that about 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The prevalence of arthritis escalates with accumulating weight. Research indicates that cultivating a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decrease degenerative progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can reduce the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would be extraordinarily beneficial in reducing back pain as well.

A healthy diet and appropriate exercise is imperative for an individual who desires to overcome their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other areas of the body.  Even though this counsel presumably doesn’t come as anything new, it really is the only way for you to stop suffering and get your life back. 

First of all, we’ll address the dieting issue.  There are hundreds of different ways to diet and the majority of them are effective only on a temporary basis.  Just think about it, if you were to lose weight for good, the diet industry would lose a life-long customer!  Eating a life-enriching diet (as a lifestyle choice as opposed a temporary fix) and cutting your calories so that you are using more calories than you are taking in is the only approach to losing weight in a healthy, permanent way.  Don’t try to lose 20 pounds every week because that is a limited and perilous fix. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order to have positive results.

As far as exercise is concerned, research has shown that physical activity decreases pain, improves function, and slows down disability. At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has proved to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.

Besides the health advantages your joints will undergo from exercise, chiropractic adjustments are a highly beneficial way to get movement back in the joints of your spine and other areas of your body. A well-adjusted spine makes exercise and physical activity much easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine released the results of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis.  Of those people, 63% replied to the survey by saying they were utilizing some type of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those people, 31% were using chiropractic. Undoubtedly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those utilizing chiropractic found it helpful.  Explaining why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, people gave a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt certain that it is safe, 4) it had helped someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been assisting men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic conditions for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can lower resistance and immunity, which can lead to new health challenges.

It is always a good idea to see a health care professional to talk about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is a knowledgeable resource for information on the sort of lifestyle changes that you will find necessary to assist you in managing your arthritis. Moreover, in addition to correcting any misalignments in your spine, your chiropractor will diagnose any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.

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One of the major benefits of practicing yoga is improving your balance.
Improved balance is not just about your strong physical synchronization
but also about the balance between the left and right, front and back as
well as the high and low characteristics of your body. Not many of us
can claim perfect body balance, as it is relatively common for a person
to have both one side that is weaker counterbalanced by the other that
has ore strength. For example, it might be possible to turn your head or
twist your spine in a different or in more ways compared to another
individual. You can bend forward with ease but the same cannot be
done backwards.

This asymmetry and lack of balance in different parts of the body
causes stresses and strains, often leading to injury, pain, discomfort
and uneasiness. Yoga helps in generating balance and synchronization
in the body. Yoga promotes a natural symmetry throughout your body,
which in turn helps you to remain both strong and flexible whilst also
obviously being more balanced. Yoga also aids you when you try to set
the mental desire to push and be self-confident against the need to
surrender to life whilst also submitting to life and remaining passive. In
this manner, yoga helps you to achieve a balanced attitudinal symmetry
and stability as well.

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